Moon on a stick car requirements
Discussion
I'm idly musing over a replacement car to buy for MrsRNP.
Her requirements in order of preference are;
Heated seats
Heated steering wheel
Eyeball melting heater
Leather seats
My requirements are;
As cheap as possible
Reliable / easy to repair DIY serviceable (no wetbelt engines, prefer larger capacity non stressed normally aspirated - IE not Ecoboom)
Not a Ford
Practical (MPV / estate)
Galvanized/zinc coated long lasting bodyshells.
Petrol
Better than 25mpg
Supported by grey/cloned aftermarket diagnostic (eg Vagcom, Vida, Peugeot Planet))
For reference the car that has met most of the requirements is her trusty and beloved 21year old Volvo V70 but sadly its showing signs of coming towards the end of it life (corrosion in the bodyshell above the rear subframe). The other two references are our 1st gen Cayenne (only used for towing and adventures, it's not a daily driver) which is where the heated steering wheel requirements comes from. The other is my 2004 M59 Peugeot Partner (Berlingo) multispace that she hates!
The car is mainly used for short local journeys and often for carrying 'stuff' although it doesn't need to be as big as the V70. An EV would be ideal but my budget probably doesn't include them.
Any suggestions welcome!
Her requirements in order of preference are;
Heated seats
Heated steering wheel
Eyeball melting heater
Leather seats
My requirements are;
As cheap as possible
Reliable / easy to repair DIY serviceable (no wetbelt engines, prefer larger capacity non stressed normally aspirated - IE not Ecoboom)
Not a Ford
Practical (MPV / estate)
Galvanized/zinc coated long lasting bodyshells.
Petrol
Better than 25mpg
Supported by grey/cloned aftermarket diagnostic (eg Vagcom, Vida, Peugeot Planet))
For reference the car that has met most of the requirements is her trusty and beloved 21year old Volvo V70 but sadly its showing signs of coming towards the end of it life (corrosion in the bodyshell above the rear subframe). The other two references are our 1st gen Cayenne (only used for towing and adventures, it's not a daily driver) which is where the heated steering wheel requirements comes from. The other is my 2004 M59 Peugeot Partner (Berlingo) multispace that she hates!
The car is mainly used for short local journeys and often for carrying 'stuff' although it doesn't need to be as big as the V70. An EV would be ideal but my budget probably doesn't include them.
Any suggestions welcome!
dmsims said:
You mention budget but don't state it!
As low as possible, as high as necessary!Our cars have ranged in cost from £500 for the Porsche through to whatever the Volvo cost us 18years ago (can't remember now).
Think more towards Bangernomics and DIY fettling rather than PCP / shiny main dealers.
I'll have a go.
Don't think this ticks the heated steering wheel box though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411035...
Don't think this ticks the heated steering wheel box though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411035...
If the V70 is OK (as in no major issues) apart from the rear subframe rust, why not spend a bit of cash on that and get it sorted?
If you spend a few grand on a new car, you're bound to end up splashing out even more money on brakes, tyres, suspension or other issues as the owner may well have been aware of bills on the horizon and has sold it to avoid them... so why not invest in the car you've already got?
If you spend a few grand on a new car, you're bound to end up splashing out even more money on brakes, tyres, suspension or other issues as the owner may well have been aware of bills on the horizon and has sold it to avoid them... so why not invest in the car you've already got?
Faust66 said:
If the V70 is OK (as in no major issues) apart from the rear subframe rust, why not spend a bit of cash on that and get it sorted?
If you spend a few grand on a new car, you're bound to end up splashing out even more money on brakes, tyres, suspension or other issues as the owner may well have been aware of bills on the horizon and has sold it to avoid them... so why not invest in the car you've already got?
Sensible. Or get another V70 in better condition. If you spend a few grand on a new car, you're bound to end up splashing out even more money on brakes, tyres, suspension or other issues as the owner may well have been aware of bills on the horizon and has sold it to avoid them... so why not invest in the car you've already got?
Something like an 8 year old Skoda Octavia L&K?
Relatively cheap, got all the options, comfortable, reliable and you have vag com to mess around with it. Not difficult to work on either.
My neighbor has one as his work car, takes him 400 miles to Scotland and back each week without complaint.
Relatively cheap, got all the options, comfortable, reliable and you have vag com to mess around with it. Not difficult to work on either.
My neighbor has one as his work car, takes him 400 miles to Scotland and back each week without complaint.
"If the V70 is OK (as in no major issues) apart from the rear subframe rust, why not spend a bit of cash on that and get it sorted?"
I took the arch liners out during covid and cleaned everything before epoxying but I didn't drop the rear subframe and rust has caught hold of the floorpan/spare wheel well above the subframe. The subframe itself is okay
I also had the steering rack refurbished during covid by a good specialist but it's leaking again so is probably worn beyond repair now. A Volvo main dealer replacement is £1k unless I can find the ZF part from elsewhere.
The driver's seat bolster has split and the wheels need refurbishing again.
It's 21years old, done 215k miles and has served us well.......but doesn't have a heated steering wheel!
I took the arch liners out during covid and cleaned everything before epoxying but I didn't drop the rear subframe and rust has caught hold of the floorpan/spare wheel well above the subframe. The subframe itself is okay
I also had the steering rack refurbished during covid by a good specialist but it's leaking again so is probably worn beyond repair now. A Volvo main dealer replacement is £1k unless I can find the ZF part from elsewhere.
The driver's seat bolster has split and the wheels need refurbishing again.
It's 21years old, done 215k miles and has served us well.......but doesn't have a heated steering wheel!
okv3 said:
Mazda6 Estate? Sport Nav+ models from 2018 have heated steering wheels and meet most of your requirements.
My experience of 21st century Mazdas is that they rust for fun. Maybe they'd upped their game by 2018, but I'm yet to see a 10+ year old Mazda that the underside didn't look like it'd driven to see the Titanic and back! I like Mazdas ... a lot ... but I couldn't in good conscience recommend them to someone who has mentioned good rustproofing as one of their requirements. 
Maybe things have moved on ... and newer cars are better ... always happy to be corrected.
No electric estates but don't say if dropping seats is an option?
Hyundai Ioniq Premium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501228...
Hyundai Kona Premium, Electric but not big. Long range.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502199...
Leaf 40kWh N Connecta £7k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502068...
MG5 Exclusive, estate shaped by kind of.an extended hatchback.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412137...
Hyundai Ioniq Premium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501228...
Hyundai Kona Premium, Electric but not big. Long range.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502199...
Leaf 40kWh N Connecta £7k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502068...
MG5 Exclusive, estate shaped by kind of.an extended hatchback.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412137...
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